Valve construction



Dec. 16, 1952 c, SNYDER 2,621,700

VALVE CONSTRUCTION Filed April 29, 1949 WHIP MEL? Patented Dec. 16, 1952VALVE CONSTRUCTION Clarence E. Snyder, Akron, Ohio, assignor to The B.F. Goodrich Company, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application April 29, 1949, Serial No. 90,451

8 Claims. (01. 152-427) This invention relates to valves for inner tubesand especially to valves for safety tubes constructed to provideauxiliary air chambers in tires for preventing damage to the tires andloss of control of the vehicle upon which they are mounted by retardingdeflation of the tires after a puncture or blqwout.

When the tire is deflated, as by puncturing, the crown portion of thetire engages the outer peripheral portion of the tube. The action of thetire on the tube tends to move the tube relative to the rim and in somecases the valve, which has been secured both to the tube and to the rim,has been torn from the inner tube. It is difiicult and sometimespractically impossible to repair damage of this kind. The action is sosevere that merely reinforcing the valves and tubes has notsatisfactorily solved the problem, and at the same time adds weight andmateria in vain.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved valveconstruction for p-reventing damage to the tube upon deflation of .therunning tire, to provide an expendable valve stem part, injury of whichis not objectionable, to provide for quick and convenient replacementand to provide convenience of manufacture and effective operation undernormal running conditions.

These and other objects will be apparent from the following description,reference being had to the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a valve structure constructed inaccordance with and embodying the invention, showing the tube mounted ona rim-and within a tire shown in broken lines.

Fig. 2 is a section of the tube taken along lines 2-2 of Fig. 1, partsbeing broken away.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of the valve stem structure shown inFig. 1, parts being sectioned.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the valve stem structure shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a modified valve stem constructionembodying the invention.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of another modification embodying theinvention showing the tube and rim, parts being broken away.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the washer shown in Fig. 6. a

Referring to the drawings and especially to the embodiment of Figs. 1 to4, a, tire rim III, which may be of the drop center type, has a tire I Imounted thereon. The tire II shown in broken lines is of the type whichdoes not require an inner tube to retain the air. Within the tire ismounted an annular safety tube [2 of resilient rubber or otherrubber-like material. The tube I2 has reinforcing plies I3, I3 embeddedin the tube at the outer periphery for preventing contact of the tubewith the crown portion I4 of the tire II. The inner peripheral portionI5 of the tube I2 is molded to a diameter such that it may snap over therim I9 and resiliently grip the rim. The outer circumference of the tube[2 may be less than the inner periphery of the tire to provide the tirewith two chambers for retarding the deflation of the tire upon punctureor blowout, to prevent damage to the tire by pinching between the rimand bead and to prevent loss of control of the vehicle by the driver.

In accordance with the invention the tube I2 has a spud or reinforcingmember I6 embedded therein and secured to the tube by suitable meanssuch as by vulcanization. The reinforcing member I6 has a threadedaperture I! for receiving a threaded tubular stud I8 of a valve stem I 9which is shown in Fig. 3. The tube I2 has openings leading to thereinforcing member I6 through which the valve stem I9 may be insertedfor engagement with the reinforcing member and through which air maypass into the tube.

The valve stem I9 has a radially extending flange 2| adjacent the studI8 for preventing the valve stem I9 from passing outwardly through avalve-stem receiving aperture 22 in the rim Ill. The flange 2| has aradially extending passage 23 leading from an axially extending passage24 in the stud I8 to an opening in the periphery of the flange. At theperiphery of the flange 2| the passage 23 is aligned with a groove 25 inthe face of the tube I2. The groove 25 extends radially outward alongthe face. of the tube I2 providing a passage through which air may passto inflate the space between the tire and the tube.

The tubular stud I8 of the valve stem is threaded along its length to aposition just short of the flange 2I. At this position the wallthickness is substantially reduced or necked providing a weakenedportion 26 of the valve stem. The thickness of the weakened portion 26is preferably small enough to cause failure at the weakened portionbefore failure of the tube I2 occurs when the tube is subjected totearing stresses imposed by movement of the tube relative to the valve.When the valve stem I9 is broken off at the weakened portion 26 areplacement valve stem I 9 may be screwed in the aperture I! afterremoving the stud I8.

The valve stem I9 has a heavy threaded shank 21 at the end of the valvewhich projects through the rim aperture 22. A valve chamber 28 isprovided Within the shank 21 for valves of conventional types not shownin the drawings. The chamber 28 is connected to the passages 23 and 24at one end and is open to the atmosphere at the other end for receivingan air supplying means to inflate the tire and tube.

The valve stem I9 projects through the aperture '22 in the rim If! andsealing washers 29, 29 of resilient rubber or other rubber-like materialare disposed at opposite sides of the rim and about the valve stem. Awasher 3I which may be of metal is disposed outwardly of the sealingwasher 29 at the outside of the rim I6 and a nut 32 is threaded on theshank 21 for moving the washer 3! toward the flange 2I and clamping therim between the sealing washers 29, 29.

The safety tube I2 is installed with the passage 23 in the flange 2Ialigned with the groove 25 in the tube I2. The sealing washers 29, 29,washer 3i and nut 32 are placed over the shank of the valve stem and thenut is threaded on the shank to clamp the rim I between the sealingwashers 23, 29' forming an air tight seal at the rim.

To inflate the assembly air under pressure is forced into the chamber 28of the valve stem and is valved into the passages 23 and 24 in thetubular stud I8 and flange 2|. The passages 23 and 24 are preferably ofthe same diameter and meter air at the same rate into the inner chamherin tube I2 and into the outer chamber between the tire II and the tube.

Upon puncture of the tire II rapid deflation may take place until theouter periphery of the safety tube I2 engages the crown portion I4 ofthe tire. The safety tube I2 then supports the tire and the air escapesslowly from the tube through the passages 23 and 24 retarding thedefiation of the tire.

When the safety tube I2 supports the tire the tube is urgedcircumferentially relative to the rim it as the tire turns and theresulting forces tend to pull the valve stem I9 with the tube. Underthese forces the stud I3 will break away from the valve stem I3 at theweakened portion 25 and the tube will be relieved from excessivestresses at the portion adjacent the reinforcing member I6 in which thestud IB is threaded.

When the tire is repaired the severed stud I8 is removed from thereinforcing member I and the stud of a replacement valve stem I3 isscrewed in. The tube I2 is maintained intact and is usable again withoutrequiring repair.

In Fig. 5 a modification is shown in which the valve stem if) isconstructed with a hollow tubular stud 33 which is attached to the valvestem by threaded engagement. The valve stem I9 has a threaded axialaperture 34 at the flanged end for receiving the stud 33 in threadedengagement. This aperture 34 connects with a passage 25 opening on thevalve chamber 28. When the tubular stud 33 is threaded in the aperture34 an axial passage 35 in the stud opens on the passage 35 in the valvestem. A..radial passage 31 is provided in the tubular stud 33 at aposition which is in alignment with the passage 23 of flange 25 when thestud is threaded and bottomed in the aperture 34. The passages 23, 3Sand 3'5 may be of any desired size. However it is preferable that thepassages have the same cross sectional area for metering the air fromthe valve chamber 28 into the inner and outer chambers in the tire.

In operation, the stud 33 is threaded in the reinforcing member I6 ofthe tube I2 and the valve stem is secured to the rim Ii! in sealingengagement by nut 32, washer 3i and sealing washers 29, 29, as describedfor the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4. When the tire II ispunctured and defiates to a point where the tube I2 supports the tire,the tube is urged circumferentially of the rim as the tire turns. Inthis modification the tube i2 is relieved of excessive stress by thebreaking away of the stud 33 at the portion having perture 37. Theaperture 3? weakens the stud sufliciently to precipitate failure at thatportion before failure of the tube takes place. The strength of thisportion may be decreased further, if desired, to lower the forcenecessary to cause yielding, by providing more holes in the stud at thisposition.

When the tire is repaired the valve stem I9 may be furnished with a newstud 33 and threaded in the reinforcing member I5 of the tube after theseveredpieces of the stud are removed. With this construction the onlynew part necessary is a new stud 33, and no damage results to the valvestem I9 and reinforcing member I6 upon movement of the tube I2 relativeto the rim III.

In Fig. 6 another modification is shown in which the valve stem 38 has astud portion 39 integral therewith. The stud portion 39 is threaded forengaging the reinforcing member I6 of the tube I2. The valve 38 has avalve chamber 41 which connects with an axially extending passage 42 inthe stud portion 39 for conducting air into the tube. A radial passage43 is disposed in the stud portion 39 at a position which coincides withthe outer surface of the tube I2 when the stud portion is threaded inthe reinforcing member I5. The radial passage 43 connects with axialpassage 42 for conducting air from the valve to the outer chamberbetween the rim I0 and the tube I2.

A sealing washer 44 as shown in Fig. '7 may be disposed between the rimI0 and tube I2 and about the stud portion 39. A circumferential groove45 in the inner face at the inner periphery of the washer 44 is providedinto which the radial passage 43 of the stud portion 39 opens. Thegroove 45 is connected to the outer periphery of the washer 44 by a'groove 45 which is aligned with groove 25 in the tube I2 for conductingair from the valve stem to the space between the tire II and tube I2.

As shown in Fig. 6 the valve stem 38 has a shank portion 41 which isthreaded in a threaded aperture 43 in the rim Ii). A sealing washer 45disposed about the shank portion 41 is clamped on the rim I0 by a nut 5Ithreaded upon the shank portion and bearing against a washer 52 whichabuts sealing washer 49.

In operation the tube is placed around the rim I0 and the valve stem 38is threaded in the reinforcing member I5 and rim I3 simultaneously forclamping the washer 44 between the tube and rim. The sealing washer 49and washer 52 are placed about the shank portion 47 of the valve stem 33and a nut 5| is threaded on the shank clamping the sealing washeragainst the rim providing an air tight seal. Air may then be injectedinto the valve chamber 4| and through passages 42 and 43 which arepreferably the same size into the tire and tube enclosed spaces.

Upon deflation of the tire I I the crown portion I4 will engage theouter periphery of the tube I2 urging the tube circumferentially of thetire 5, relative to the rim upon turning of the tire. The valve stem 38will resist movement of the tube until the stresses are sufficient tobreak off the stud portion 39 at the weakened portion containing passage43. The weakened portion is designed with a yielding strength below thestrength of the tube [2 in order that failure of the valve stem willoccur prior to failure of the tube to prevent damage to the tube. Whenthe tire H is repaired it is a simple operation to remove the valve stem38 from the rim and remove the stud portion 39 from the tube reinforcingmember IS. A replacement valve stem 38 may then be installed when thetire is remounted on the rim and the tire may be reinflated withoutrequiring repair of the tube l2.

Variations may be made without departing from the scope of the inventionas it is defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A rim and pneumatic tire inner tube assembly subject to forcestending to turn the inner tube relative to the rim upon deflation of therunning tire, said assembly comprising a valve structure attached tosaid inner tube and projecting through an aperture in said rim, saidvalve structure comprising a tubular member having a passagetherethrough and a portion relatively weak in comparison with the otherportions of said structure and with the inner tube so as to bepreferentially ruptured under excessive forces tending to turn the innertube relative to the rim, the relatively weak portion having an aperturein the wall thereof opening in the passage within said tubular memberand an annular element disposed about said valve structure at saidaperture for locally separating said rim and said inner tube, and saidannular element having a groove connecting said aperture with the areaof local separation between said inner tube and said rim.

2. A tire valve structure for mounting on an inner tube, said valvestructure comprising a tubular member having a passage therethrough anda valve chamber therein, an inner tube connection disposed at one end ofsaid tubular member and a radially extending flange disposed between theportion containing said valve chamber and said inner tube connection,said flange having through the same a radially extending passageconnecting with the passage in said tubular member for communicationwith said valve chamber, said inner tube connection having an endportion for attachment to the inner tube and an adjoining portionconnecting said end portion and said tubular member, said adjoiningportion being weakened in comparison with other portions of saidstructure and with the inner tube so as to be preferentially rupturedand said adjoining portion being disposed in close proximity to saidflange.

3. A tire valve structure for mounting on an inner tube, said structurecomprising a tubular member having a passage therethrough and a valvechamber therein, an inner tube connection disposed at one end of saidtubular member and a radially extending flange disposed between theportions containing said valve chamber and said inner tube connection,said flange having a radially extending inflating passage connectingwith the passage in said tubular member for communication with saidvalve chamber, and said inner tube connection having an inflatingpassage connecting with the passage in said tubular member, theinflating passages of the valve structure intersecting in the region ofsaid flange providing by such intersection a portion weakened incomparison with other portions of said structure and with the inner tubeso as to be electively predisposed to rupture.

4. A tire rim and inner tube assembly subject to forces tending to turnthe inner tube relative, to the rim upon deflation of the running tire,said assembly comprising a valve structure havin a portion attached tosaid inner tube and a second portion attached to said rim and aconnecting portion intermediate said portion attached to said inner tubeand said second portion, said connecting portion being relatively weakin comparison with the other portions of said structure and with theinner tube so as to be preferentially ruptured under excessive forcestending to turn the inner tube relative to the rim.

5. A tire valve structure for use on an inner tubesubject to forcestending to turn the inner tube relative to a rim upon which the tire ismounted, said valve structure comprising a tubular member for conductinginflating fluid into the inner tube, said member having a portionadapted to be attached to the rim, an end portion for attachment to saidinner tube and a connecting portion intermediate the rim attaching andinner tube attaching portions of said tubular member and said connectingportion being relatively weak in comparison with other portions of saidstructure and with the inner tube so as to be preferentially rupturedunder excessive forces tending to turn the inner tube relative to therim.

6. A tire valve structure for mounting on an inner tube, said valvestructure comprising a tubular portion having a passage therethrough anda valve chamber therein, an inner tube attaching portion at one end ofsaid valve structure, a connecting portion disposed between said tubularportion and said inner tube attaching portion, said connecting portionhaving a radially extending passage connecting with the passage in saidtubular portion for communication with said valve chamber, and saidconnecting portion being weakened in comparison with other portions ofsaid structure and with the inner tube so as to be preferentiallyruptured under excessive forces tending to turn the inner tube relativeto the rim.

'7. A tire valve structure for use on an inner tube subject to forcestending to turn the inner tube relative to the rim upon which the tireis mounted, said valve structure comprising a tubular portion having avalve chamber and a passage therethrough for conducting inflating fluidinto the inner tube, said tubular portion being adapted to be attachedto the rim, an inner tube attaching portion at one end of said valvestructure, a connecting portion intermediate said tubular portion andsaid inner tube attaching portion and having a radially extendingpassage connecting with the passage in said tubular portion forcommunication with said Valve chamber, and said connecting portion beingrelatively weak in comparison with other portions of said structure andwith the inner tube so as to be preferentially ruptured under excessiveforces tending to turn the inner tube relative to the rim.

8. A tire rim, inner tube, and valve structure assembly subject toforces tending to turn the inner tube relative to the rim upon deflationof a running tire on the rim, said valve structure comprising a tubularportion having a valve chamber and a passage therethrough for conductinginflating fluid into the inner tube, said 1" 8;, tubular portion beingattached to the rim, a sec.- UNITED STATES PATENTS end portion attachedto the inner tube, and a Number Name Date connecting portionintermediatesaid tubular and 49a Atwood & slate Jam 6, 1385 secondportions having a radially extending pas 119341168 Hudson 7 1933 sageconnecting with the passage in said tubular 5 2f24l847 Eberhardet3 a1May 1941 portion for communication with said valve cham- 5 ArmstrongJune 1943 her, and said connecting portion being relativelyweak'incomparison. with said other portions of FOREIGN PATENTStil-reassembly so. as't'o; be preferentially ruptured under excessiveforces tending to turn the inner 10 Number couptry Date tube, relativgthe: rim 113,611. Australia Aug-.. 5, 1941 CLARENCE E. SNYDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following'references are ofrecord in the 15 file ofthis patent:

